Playing stick for a percussion instrument



Jan. 21, 1969 A. PAY'SON 3,422,719

PLAYING STICK FOR A PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. 22, 1966 :====q IITY'J ()Jf'JJfiIL 1a; if? a 18 INVENTOR. JABERTP/Wsa/V United States Patent 3,422,719 PLAYING STICK FOR A PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT Albert Payson, 2130 Glenview Ave., Park Ridge, Ill. 60068 Filed Aug. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 574,234 US. Cl. 84-422 Int. Cl. G10d 13/00 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Summary of the invention A principal object of the invention is to provide in a device of this character a means which may 'be manually adjusted within the hollow handle of the playing stick so as to vary the center of gravity thereof to suit the requirements of the user.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a device of this character an adjustable counterweight carried within the hollow handle of a playing stick for a percussion instrument without affecting the outer physical characteristics of the same.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a device of this character a convenient means for moving a counterweight throughout the inner chamber or core of the elongated handle for such device so as to adjustably balance the same to meet the requirements of the user.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved playing stick for a musical percussion instrument;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view of the improved playing stick as is shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view of a modified form of playing stick which is open at either end;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view of a modified counterweight for a playing stick for a musical percussion instrument; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detailed view of a modified form of the playing stick as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, I show the preferred form of construction of my improved playing stick, hammer or heater as it is sometimes called, which includes an elongated hollow handle having attached at one end thereof a resilient striking tip 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the elongated handle 10 defines an interior chamber or core 12 which is open at one end 13 opposite that of the striking tip 11.

Frictionally positioned within the core 12 of the handle 10 is a resilient counterweight 14 made of any resilient material such as rubber or the like. The counterweight 14 is of a size slightly greater than the inner diameter of the handle 10 so that it must be compressed to frictionally fit into the handle 10, to prevent it from freely sliding therethrough. The counterweight 14 is provided with an ice elongated passage 15 which extends axially of the core 12 defined by the handle 10. Inserted into the elongated passage 15 of the counterweight 14 is a pull string 16 which has one free end 17 thereof extending out of the open end 13 of the handle 10. The opposite inner end of the pull string 16 is attached to a retaining washer 18 which is of a size greater than the passage 15 formed in the counterweight 14 but less than the inner diameter of the core 12 of the handle 10.

In the application of the invention, the user of the playing stick may pull on the pull string 16 through the open end 13 of the handle 10, thus forcibly moving the counterweight 14 longitudinally through the core 12 of the handle 10, changing the center of gravity thereof, until it strikes a desired balance. In the event that the counterweight 14 has been adjusted in close proximity to the open end 13 of the handle 10 a suitable stick or rod (not shown) of a diameter less than the core 12 may be inserted into the core 12 against the counterweight 14 to forcibly move the same in the direction of the striking tip 11, changing the center of gravity of the playing stick or correctly balancing the same to that desired by the user. After a balance has been achieved, the pull string 16 may be inserted into the core 12 of the handle 10 and a closure insert (not shown) forcibly projected into the open end 13 of the handle, so as to retain the pull string 16 therein.

As shown in FIG. 5, the counterweight 14 may have the pull string 16 attached thereto at both ends so that it may be pulled in either direction, as desired.

As shown in FIG. 3, I disclose a playing stick or hammer which includes an elongated hollow handle 19 which has an annular striking tip 20 positioned about one end 21 of the handle 19. Positioned within the interior chamber or core 22 of the handle 19 is a counterweight 23 such as was heretofore described and which may be longitudie nally moved throughout the handle 19 by a suitable rod being inserted through either open end thereof and against the counterweight 23 causing the same to move and position itself to correctly balance the playing stick as desired by the user.

In FIG. 4, I have shown a playing stick or beater or hammer 24 which is of the same construction as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that externally of the handle 24 I have positioned a frictional sleeve 25 which may be moved longitudinally over the exterior of the handle 24 to correctly balance the same as desired.

The embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 4 is more readily adapted to be used during the instructional and study period or training period of the user in that the outer weighted sleeve 25 may be projected along the handle 24 until it is in close proximity to the striking tip 26 thereof so as to increase the weight at that end of the stick to develop the wrist and arm muscles of the user of the playing stick. While in effect it is the same as the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it may be that the external counterweight 25 would not be acceptable by a user during the actual rendition of a musical composition.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a new and improved playing stick for a percussion instrument which is well adapted to fulfill the aforestated objects of the invention. Moreover, whereas the invention has been described in particularity and with respect to a preferred embodiment which gives satisfactory results, it would be understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains that other embodiments and modifications thereof may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A playing stick for a percussion instrument having a handle providing an interior bore formed throughout the longitudinal length thereof and a striking tip fixedly secured to one end of the handle wherein the improvement comprises:

(a) a balancing weight formed from a resilient material and of a length less than said bore, and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said bore so as to be frictionally self-retaining when compressed therein while forcibly movable axially through the handle to change the balance of the playing stick, and

(b) a means for moving said balancing weight axially through the bore of said handle.

2. A playing stick for a percussion instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said balancing weight through said handle is axially projectable through the bore of said handle and in contact with said balancing weight for forcibly moving the same throughout the longitudinal length of the handle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 711,906 10/1902 Lyon 84422 861,158 7/1907 Bucknum 84422 2,521,336 9/1950 Bramson 84-422 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

GARY M. POLUMBUS, Assistant Examiner. 

